Lamp socket



BY k/W ATTORNEYS March 19, 1929. G. w. GOODRIDGE LAMP SOCKET Filed Jime 29, 1927 I a m 11! GIL SEPT N Gaoofl/oas l a tented Mar. 19, 1929.

GILBERT W. GOODRIDGE, OF FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNEC- LAMP SOCKET.

Application filed June 29,

My invention relates to lamp sockets, and particularly to sockets of the miniature type. The object of my invention is to reduce the cost of construction of sockets of this type.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a socketin which my invention is embodied in one form, and showing the manner of applying the-pigtail connections to the socket contacts; and V Fig. 2 is a similar section showing the pigtails secured to the lamp contacts and both housed within an insulating casing.

It is customary in the manufacture of miniature sockets, which are used extensively in the trade for Christmas tree strings, to assemble upon an insulating button both screw shell and center contacts, and thereafter to connect the pig tail leads to these contacts by a suitable soldering operation. My invention eliminates the usual center contact, as well as the expense of attaching it to the insulating button. I form the center contact incident to the soldering operation by which one of the pigtails is connected to the socket.

T have indicated at 3 an insulating button which may be of any appropriate shape and material, and may be connected in any suitable fashion to the screwshell contact 4 for support. I prefer to mold the button 3 from glass in the bottom of the screw shell.

However the button 3 is formed, I pierce it axially by a hole having I diameter only slightly in excess of that of the pigtail wire 5, so that when the latter is skinned of its insulating covering 6 and passed through the hole in the button, the wire substantially obstructs the hole. The length of the bared wire end is so predetermined that when the wire is passed through the button the insulating cover 6 forms a shoulder 7 which abuts against the outer face of the button. A. slight recess 9 formed in the inner face of the button around the hole, confines the solder drop 8 to central position. The length of the bared wire end is preferably sufiicient to pass through the button and project slightly from its inner face. When so positioned the wire may be secured by a drop of solder 8 applied to the projecting end of the wire, the solder overlyln the inner face at the button to form not onl y an anchor for 1927. Serial No. 202,380.

the pigtail, but also the center contact of the socket.

If desired, the projecting end of the wire may be offset over the inner face of the button to increase the security of its anchorage, but this is not essential. In either case, the shoulder 7 serves not only as a closure which prevents the escape of solder through the hole during the soldering operation, but also as an abutment which prevents unseating of the usual metallic center contact piece and the operation of rivetting the same to the button 3. This has the advantage not only of economy of material and labor, but also reduces loss from breakage incident to the 'rivetting operation. There could be no bet ter electrical connection than that afiorded by my invention, while its mechanical security is ample for this type of socket.

The construction which I have shown in the drawings is the most economical, and is sufiicient for this purpose. It would of course be possible to slip a washer of metal or insulation over the bared wire end 5, so that the washer rather than the wire insulation itself forms the immediate closure at the outer end of the wire hole in the button 3. Or the bared wire end could be kinked to form the abutment shoulder. These and other ex edients which will readi- 1y occur to those d aling with the construction, do not depart from the underlying thoughts which I claim as my invention.

I claim 1. A lamp socket comprising a screw shell contact, an insulating button secured thereto and pierced within the boundaries of the shell, in combination with a lead wire having an insulating jacket, the end of the wire being bared, sai bared end of the wire assing into the hole in the button and its insulating jacket forming a shoulder which bears against the outer face of the latter, together with solder engaging the bared end of the wire to mechanically and electrically connect the same, said solder overlying the inner face of the button and forming the center dontact of the socket.

2. The combination with a pierced insulating body, of a bared Wire passing through the hole in said body, an insulating jacket for said wire forming a shoulder abutting against the opposite face of the body to limit the displacement of the wire in the hole, to-

gether with solder engaging the projecting wire end to mechanically secure the wire to the insulating body and to afiord an exposed contact. 7

3. The method of forming and securing contact on an insulating body, which comprises forming a hole in an insulating body, passing the bared end of an insulation-jacketed wire into the hole until halted by the end of the insulating jacket, and forming a contact-by solder applied to the bared wire end and overlying the surface of the "insujacket with the opposite face of the insulatin body.

4. he combination with a pierced insulating body, of a bared wire end passing through the hole in the body, means limiting the insertion of the wire throu h saidhole, together with solder enga ing is e projecting wire end to mechanical y secure the wire to the insulating body and to afiord an exposed contact.

5. The combination with a pierced insulating body, of a bared wire entering the hole insaid body, means limiting the entry of the wire into said hole, solder engaging the inserted end of the wire from the opposite face of the body and serving not only to mechanically secure the wire to the body, but also to afi'ord an ex osed contact.

In testimony whereo I have signed my name to this specification.

GILBERT W. GOODRIDGE. 

